Sound reproducing means



April 13, 1943. J, G. KURZEN, JR

SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICE FiledDec. 7, 1940 v INVENTQR. 7 OHN G. Kurzen, JV.

Patented Apr. 13, 1943 U N l TE D STATES PATETN T OFFICE SOUND REPRODUGING MEANS John G. Kurzen, Jr., Brooklyn, 'N. Y., assignor to Watch Tower Bible and 'Iract"Society, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 7, 1940, Serial No. 368,994

(own-2) 26 Claims.

.This invention relating as indicated to sound reproducing devices, has-more particular referenceto "construction actuated by a stylus or a needle operating in a sound record track, and involving improved structural characteristics-and mounting and control. Other featuresan-d advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the :principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

"Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the same, with the container open; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective detail on larger scale; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a detail; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 6 is a similar 'view of the margin correlating gage; Fig. 7 is an enlarged section axial of the fulcrumof the diaphragm lever; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the winding crank.

In the form illustrated, Figs. 1 2, etc., there iswshown a container 2 with a closure orlid-i, and a turn-table 4 with a motor M, of construction as desired. A sound record discR is suitably rotated by the turn-table. Arranged to ibe brought into relation with the sound record is -a diaphragm assembly or sound head, and this comprises a diaphragm D which has a diaphragm actuating lever L with onearm It connected to the "diaphragm and anotherarm ll witha holding chuck l2 and set-screw i3 for astylusor needle l4. Thediaphragm is mounted in an opening in a diaphragm plate or bafile IS, the diaphragm lever Jbeing fulcrumed in relation, and when the supporting frame or lid issetdown the assembly can traverse a sound record, with the needle in the sound track. Thus, a guide rod or rail I8 is mounted in the carrying frameoriid, and upon'such rail the sound head travels,.being guided on the rail'bya member orshoe l9- which is connectedto the baflie boardassembly :by-arms 26. Preferably, thelatter are slightly resilient,

such as to allow taking up of shock inrelative movement. The rail I8 is oif set or eccentric, being mounted at each end in a suitableplate, whereby the rail :as a slightly eccentric member may be turned in its mounting to relativelyraise or lower the sound head assembly-with relation to the sound record PR. Asseen inFigs.2 and '3 etc., the ends-ofthe rail'l 8..are-.mounted infthe bearing p1atesl22,23, respectively, andthe end extending. through the plate323 is provided with .an operating handle 25 on-the exterior, whereby the rail may be=turned in partial rotative movement as afore-not'ed in slight raising and lowering movements. .Thus, the .operatinglhandle '25 and correspondingly the .eccentric'rail, may -be in anyone of the positions I, .11 and III, Fig. 2; correspondingly, the sound head assembly, when the lid .3 is closed down, .may be in position I looked- .aganst the top of :the lid, as shown particularly in Fig.2, or by a turn maybeina position II freeing the =bafiierplate from locking or frictional engagement with the top of the'lid whereby the. lbaiile plate. assembly or carriage is free to run back oriorth .on the guide rail l8; or by .anotherarcuate turn to the position III .the baflle .plate or sound head assembly is set still position oppositeithe detent, the latter snaps into the notch with sufficientpres'siuretoretainthe cam and therail position against acci'dentaljarring loose. At the same time'thereis'aisuffilciently audible click toIin'dicatethe lpOSltlOh to theoperator even .though'the' movement of the handle is not observed. Sincein the movements of the guide rod or railandicorrespozrdingly'the movements of the sound headflthe stylus or'needie is brought into engagement'withthe sound record, a-preferred constructionincludes a shockabsorbingmeans preventive of accidentally abmpt engagement. For'this, a pulleyLor sheave'32rnay be. secured on the rodwor rail l8, and cooperating with .the sheave is --a friction Zban'd 33 of suitable materiahfor instance rubberizedfazbric etc. The band 331's suitably. secured at one end'lfi' l, as by a holding screw and clamp, and the other end is :provided .vvith a tensioning spring .35 and a" takeup screw (36. The tension or friction'ontheipulley. and correspondingly uponvthe turning move- .ment .of the rod l8 may (thus .be adjusted as desire,d..and the Lspringf3-5 in allcases is availableito take .upanyimpact shock which maybe introduced in the movements of the sound head relative to the sound record or to the locked position in the lid.

The sliding member or shoe E9, in the preferred construction, involves ball-bearing engagement with the rail l8. Thus, for instance, a ball cage or seeve 38, Fig. 3, within the member IQ which is shown centrally broken away for clearness, may carry bearing balls 39, in such number of sets as may be desired. With this, the member [9 and the entire diaphragm assembly carried by it, slide particularly freely on the guide rail [8.

The detail construction of the diaphragm in the mounting as indicated may vary. Desirably however, the diaphragm may be of non-metallic character and of conical form, and of large diameter in contrast to the customary phonograph type diaphragms. Fiber diaphragms of 4 to 6 inches diameter, as of a type suitable for radio loud speaker amplifiers are thus directly applicable in the present mounting. Preferably also, the diaphragm is provided further with a small inverse cone 40 at its apex, the diaphragm lever arm being connected to such apex, and the conical diaphragm generally being directed toward the sound-emitting grille 42 in the lid 3. To control the volume, a shutter 43 is arranged in slidable relation over the perforations or grille 42. Desirably, the shutter may be a thin plate of suitable material, and it may be finely perforated as at 44 through about half of its area. An advantageous mounting for the slidable shutter is a slot guide-way 45 with an actuator button or knob 46 secured to the shutter and forming a cooperating guide and holding means, as moved into desired adjusted position by the operator.

The mounting of the diaphragm lever is desirably sufuciently rugged, yet sensitive, to withstand usage under drastic conditions; and an advantageous form involves fulcrum projections 58, Figs. 3 and 7, the diaphragm lever arm I0 and the needle carrying arm H being at right angles thereto. The fulcrum projections 50 bear against chisel-pointed studs slight recesses or grooving being provided in the projections 50. And bearing against the projections 50 are clips 52 having slight bosses or indents 53 which engage in cooperating recesses in the fulcrum projections. The clips 52 are secured in position at the side of the diaphragm by suitable screws 54. Desirably the diaphragm lever arm It] is hollow and tapering. Particularly light Weight with strength is thus attained. The needlecarrying arm ll preferably is set at an angle to the fulcrum axis. An angle of about is advantageous. Surrounding the diaphragm and affording also clamping means is an annular metallic inertia member 58, and this by an extension 51 may provide the additional space upon which the diaphragm lever fulcrum is mounted. The proportions of the diaphragm clamping member 56, etc., are so arranged that a compensating weight effect is provided on the record-engaging needle, and substantially the same pressure, desirably around 5 02., is attained for either horizontal or vertical position of the sound record. Playing of a record can accordingly be carried on with the mechanism in the horizontal or vertical position as preferred.

To control the movement of the turn-table'and motor, a brake is provided. This may be in the form of a brake block or shoe 66, Fig. 2, on an arm Bl extending from a suitable anchorage, as for instance'the motor. frame. The arm BI is desirably somewhat resilient. Its free end 62,

near the container wall, is in alignment with the cam 28 on the rod I8. The cam may, when in one position, lid 3 being closed, engage the end 62 of the brake arm 61, thereby depressing the latter such as to hold the brake block away from engagement with the under-surface of the turn-table 4. Conversely when the lid is open or when the cam 28 is in its other position even with the lid closed, the brake 52 is not contacted or pushed down, and the brake block 68 then engages against the underside of the turn-table and holds it against movement.

From the description thus far, the manner of use of the device will be readily understood. With a sound record R in position and the motor wound up, and the lid 3 closed, on turning the control handle 25 from its normal position I (in which the baffle assembly or sound head is held in frictional engagement or locked position against the top of the lid) to the position II, the sound head is released such as to allow traverse movement on the guide rail l6, and by slightly tilting the device toward the control handle 25, the sound head or carriage slides over to the start position. On now turning the control handle 25 on to position III, the sound head assembly is lowered still further so that the needle engages in the sound track of the record, and playing begins. The position of the container during such playing may be horizontal or vertical as preferred. At the conclusion of the record, on turning the control handle 25 back from position III to II, the needle is raised from the sound record, and at the same time the brake is thrown on, stopping the motor. To accurately control the position of the needle for a start of a sound record, a gage 65, Figs. 3 and 6, is provided. If this be slightly resilient, as particularly desirable, movement of the sound head there-against into start position requires no particular care or attention, and shock is absent. Precise adjustment of the gage 65 to co-relate to a record may be accomplished by an adjusting screw which is screwthreaded through the mounting plate 23.

The winding crank C for the motor for more particular convenience may involve a combined function of carrying handle. The shaft 'itl, Fig. 8, of the crank may have a screw-threaded end H to engage in the receiving sleeve T2,Fig. 2, of the motor for winding. Turning in reverse, of course permits removal of the crank entirely. The end of the arm 13 of the Winding crank is provided with a handle'l t which is slidably mounted and retained in either in or out position by suitable detent means, as for instance a springpressed ball l5 co-acting with grooves it, I! in the handle member. As readily seen, when the handle member i i is in out position as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8, the winding crank may be used as such to wind up the motor. When the handle member M is pushed into in position, a stud 18 on the end can engage in a recess in a holding plate 19 and prevent movement in carrying.

This application is a continuation, in part and as to common subject matter, of my application Serial No. 342,335 filed June 25, 1940.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and claim as my invention: 7 r

1. A mechanical sound reproducing device,

comprising support means, a diaphragm movable overa sound record, a rod carrie'dbysaid support means for guiding such movement, a 'ballbearingslide on said rodandcarryin'g such diaphragm, said 'ro'd being 'eccentrically mounted with respect to the support means to raise and lower the diaphragm from and to a sound record, a handle controlling the position of said rod to locked position, released position for return to start and down position for engaging .the needle with-a sound record, and combined snaphold and audible position-indicating means for said control handle.

2. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising support means, a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a rod carried by said support means for guiding such movement, a slide on said rod and carrying said diaphragm, said rod being eccentrically mounted with respect to the support means to raise and lower the diaphragm from and to a soundv record, and shockabsorbing means for cus'hioningturning movement of said rod.

3. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising support means, a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a rod carried by. said support means for guiding suchmovement, a slide on said rod and carryingsaid diaphragm, said rod being eccentrically mounted withrespect to the support means to raise and lower the diaphragm from and to. a sound-record, and a Dulley on said rod and a spring-tension friction band over said pulley.

4. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising a container having a lid, a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a rod for. guiding such movement, a connection from said diaphragm traveling on said rod, saidrod being eccentrically mounted to raise and lower the diaphragm from andto a sound record, bearing plates for the rod on the inside of the container lid, and a control handle on the end of said rod externally of the lid for turning the rod to raise or lower the diaphragm assembly from and to a sound record.

5. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising support means, a diaphragmmovable over a sound record, a rod carried by said support means for guiding such movement, a ballbearing slide on said rod and carrying such diaphragm, said rodbeing eccentrical-lymounted with respect to the'support means to raise and lower the diaphragm from and tea sound record, and a control handle'for'the positioning of said rod.

' 6. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a rail for directing such movement, a member carrying said diaphragm and traveling on said rail,and means permitting free movement, including a ball-bearing cage'between said member and said rail within said member.

7. In a sound record operated sound reproduc ing device having a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a guide for such movement and a connection between said diaphragm and said guide having unattached bearing elements which are rotatable in different directions.

8. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising a container having a lid, a diaphragm therein movable over a sound record, a turntable for supporting a sound record, a motor for driving the turn-table, a lever carrying a brake block normally in engagement with the turntable, and a cam carried-by the container lid'to operate the brake 'arm.

9,. 'In a sound record operated sound reproducing' device having a diaphragm, an actuating lever having a mounting fulcrumand diverging therefrom an arm connected to the diaphragm and an arm having a needle chuck, the latter arm being inclined'at an angle to the lin of the axis of the mounting fulcrum.

10. A mechanical sound reproducing device, comprising a hornless sound diaphragm, and diaphragm-actuating means including a lever having a record-operated needle-carrying arm and a hollow tapered actuating arm connected to the diaphragm.

11. A mechanical sound reproducing device. comprising a conical diaphragm with the concavity inthe direction in which sound is to be projected, and having its apex as a small reverse cone, and an actuating lever having a needle-carrying arm and a diaphragm-actuating arm the latter connected to said reverse apex cone.

12. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a container, a sound record actuator tone arm eliminating diaphragm therein, a grille in the container, a volume control shutter slidable over said grille, an actuating knob therefor in a plane normal to the plane of the shutter and accessible externally of the container, and a slot-way guiding said knob.

13. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a container with a lid, a tone arm eliminating sound record operating diaphragm within, a grille in the container lid, and an inconspicuous volume control shutter slidable over said grille, one section of said shutter being imperforate and another section having sound emitting perforations smaller than the grille openings.

14. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a container and sound record driving means including an L-shaped crank for winding said motor having a handle piece slidable in its free end into outward position for winding and into inward position against the container for the carrying of the latter.

15. In a sound reproducing device having a container with a motor and turn table therein and a crank for winding the motor with a turning handle on said crank movable to one position for winding and to another position to convert the crank into a carrying handle for the container, a tone arm eliminating diaphragm movable over a sound record on said turn table, a hollow tapered diaphragm-actuating lever having fulcrum projectionsand a needle chuck arm and an arm connected to the diaphragm, the needle chuck arm being inclined at an angle to the line of the axis of the fulcrum projections, a sound-emitting grille opposite the diaphragm in the container, a volume control shutter slidable over said grille, a guide within the container for guiding the diaphragm movement, a slide coacting with said guide for carrying said diaphragnnsaid guide being mounted to raise and lower the diaphragm from and to a sound record, means providing free movement longitudinally and rotatably between said slide and said guide, including unattached rolling bearing elements, a handle for ccntrollingthe position of said diaphragm, position-retaining means for said guide, shock-absorbing means including a resilient member for cushioning the movements of said guide and diaphragm relative to a sound record, means for cushioning and stopping longitudinal movement of said slide and diaphragm toward one end of the guide, including an adjustable resilient abutment for gauging the diaphragm to start position on the record, a brake normally restraining rotation of the turn table, a hand control for said brake, and a projection actuated by closing the container for releasing said brake. i

16. In a sound reproducing device having a container with a lid and a motor and turn table therein, a hornless diaphragm movable over a sound record on said turn table, a sound-emitting grille opposite the diaphragm in the container, a volume control shutter slidable over said grille, an actuator button for said shutter externally of the container, a slot guide-way for said actuator button, a guide within the container for guiding the diaphragm movement, a slide coacting with said guide for carrying said diaphragm, unattached friction-eliminating rolling elements between said slide and said guide, said guide being mounted to raise and lower the diaphragm from and to a sound record, a handle for controlling the position of said guide, shock-absorbing means cushioning the movements of said guide, an adjustable abutment for gauging the diaphragm to start position on the record, a brake normally restraining rotation of the turn table, and combined cam and lid-operated means for controlling said brake.

1'7. In a sound reproducing device having a container with a lid and a diaphragm movable over a sound record, a guide rod carried by said lid for guiding such movement, being turnable on its axis and mounted to raise and lower the dia-- phragm from and to a sound record, a pulley on said rod, a friction band about said pulley, a tensioning spring and screw-threaded take-up for adjusting said band to cushion movement with respect to the sound record, a cam on said guide rod, a brake for controlling the sound record and having a projection contactable by said cam, a handle controlling the position of said guide rod, and position-indicating means for said control handle.

18. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a record-tracking needle-carrying head movable into and outof contact with the record, a guide rod for carrying said head,

being turnable on its axis to raise and lower the head, a pulley on said rod, a friction band about said pulley, a tensioning spring and screwthreaded take-up for adjusting said band for cushioning movement into contact withthe record, a cam segment on said guide rod having positioning notches in its periphery, a resilient detent to coact with such notches, a slide on said rod having a connection to said record-tracking head, and means permitting relative movement axially and rotatably between said slide and said rod, including unattached rolling bearing elements in the slide.

19. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a record-engaging head movable over a sound record, a guide for said head movable to raise and lower said head relative to the sound record, a slide on said guide having a connection to said head, unattached rolling bearing elements caged between said slide and said guide, and a resilient gauge for cushioning and stopping movement of said head toward one end of the guide to be in position to start playing.

20. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a record-engaging head movable over a sound record and an enclosure therefor, means for raising and lowering said head, including a guide for directing movement over the sound record, a resilient gauge for gauging said head to start position on a sound record, and an external regulating knob for said gauge.

21. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a sound-emitting diaphragm actuating assembly movable over a sound record, a guide on which said assembly is carried over the sound record, and an adjustable resilient abutment for gauging the diaphragm assembly to start position,

22. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a diaphragm actuating assembly movable over a sound record, a guide for directing the movement, means for raising and lowering said assembly relative to the sound record, including said guide and a member travelling on said guide, and slightlyresilient arms connecting said diaphragm assembly with said member.

23. In a record-actuated sound reproducing device having a container with a lid and a turn table and a motor for driving the turn table within said container together with a recordengaging head movable over a sound record on said turn table, a guide for directing the movement of said head, said guide being mounted to raise and lower the head from and to the sound record, a brake normally restraining the movement of the turn table, and a cam on said guide optionally operable for releasing said brake.

24. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a container with a lid and sound record operating means within and a record-engaging head movable over a sound record, a guide rod for directing the movement of said head and mounted in said lid to turn for raising and lowering the head relative to the sound record, a spring-setting brake for the rec ord operating means, a projection from said brake, and a cam on said rod to engage said projection and release the brake when the rod is turned to playing position with the lid closed but not engaging the projection when in other positions.

25. In a sound record operated sound reproducing device having a container with a lid and sound record operating means within and a record-engaging head movable over a sound record, a guide for raising and lowering the head relative to the sound record, a brake automatically setting when the lid is open andyvhen the head is not in playing position, and brakereleasing means operated by placing the head in playing position.

26, In a sound record operated sound reproucing device having a sound record operating means and a record-engaging head movable over the sound record, a guide for raising and lowering the head relative to the sound record, a brake automatically setting when the head is not in playing position, and brake-releasing means operated by placing the head in playing position.

JOHN G. KURZEN, JR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTI-ON'.

- Patent No. 2,516,175. April 15, 19%.

JOHN G. KURZEN, J

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 62, claim 6, after the word "rail" strike out "within said member"; arid that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confom to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 191+}.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

